HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Welcome to a new year here at the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music. There are some very exciting things coming in the next few weeks, so make sure you take a good long look at this month’s newsletter!
FACULTY CONCERT – FRIDAY, JANUARY 27 @ 5PM
Faculty Concert featuring Cindy Speelman and Patrick Olmsted Friday January 27 @ 5 PM, all welcome, admission by donation. This concert series is intended as an enrichment program for students and all students are encouraged to attend. Concerts last for about an hour and include information on the pieces and instruments that are being used.
WINTER RECITAL – JANUARY 28 @ 3PM AND 7PM
The Conservatory’s Winter Recital will take place on January 28 at St. Paul’s Church in downtown Nanaimo. Students are welcome to sign up for either time and admission is free! This is a great opportunity for students to perform for an audience and for family and friends to see our students’ wonderful progress! Please plan to join us.
VANCOUVER ISLAND CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
FEBRUARY 24-26, 2012
NANAIMO CENTRE STAGE - 25 VICTORIA ROAD
Eight groups will perform in the 2nd annual Vancouver Island Chamber Music Festival this year. We are just putting the final touches on the programming and will let you know all about it in the next newsletter. Festival passes will go on sale on January 20th and are available through the Conservatory office. Passes are only $30 for adults and $25 for students. Individual tickets will be available at the door only and are $10 per show.
NEW KINDERMUSIK CLASSES START FEBRUARY 1, 2012
The spring semester of Kindermusik begins Feb 1. Our Time is 10:30-11:15 and Village is 11:15am-12pm. Classes run weekly until May 16, with March 21 off for spring break.
Our Time (18 months to 3 years) - Away We Go! -- Hop on the train, get in the car, board the plane, and Away We Go! This class focuses on transportation, a favorite topic for toddlers who are on the go, go, go! Sing and play along with favorite songs, such as “I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad” and “Wheels on the Bus”. Explore fast and slow, smooth and bumpy, and high and low. Read stories about ways to get around. Shiny Dinah tells the story of a train, and Giddy-Up! has a horse, speedboat, racecar, and more to help you get where you want to go. Home Materials: Double CD featuring songs from class; two interactive story books—Shiny Dinah and Giddy-Up! to develop early literacy skills; Home Activity Book, and two harmonicas designed for toddlers.
Village (birth to 18 months) - DewDrops -- Stop and smell the roses—and lily of the valley, and tulips, and pansies. In this class, parents and babies will play and move together to songs about flowers, such as “Jasmine Flower,” “How Does Your Garden Grow?,” and “White Coral Bells.” You’ll also hear traditional Irish music, dance a jig and move to the “Irish Trot.”
Home Materials: CD of beautifully arranged songs from class, a board book of colorful flowers—DewDrops, a set of Art Banners for the nursery wall, and a Flower Bells instrument for music-making at home.
SILENT AUCTION ITEMS NEEDED
The Conservatory’s Annual Silent Auction will be happening in a few months and we are accepting donations starting now. If you have something you would like to donate, please bring it by any time. All donations of items will receive a tax receipt for the full value of the item. Thank you so much for supporting your Conservatory!!
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
· The Nanaimo Conservatory Youth Harp Ensemble, along with 4 sibling violin players and the Duncan Youth Harpers, performed in a marvelous pre-show music session at the Port Theatre prior to the Winter Harp concert in December. The audience and the Winter Harp crew themselves were highly entertained and delighted by the efforts of the student musicians - good show! Left to right: Anneke (you can just see the edge of her white dress), Joseph, Meg, Trinity, Tianna, Juliet, Kayleigh, Ava, Hayley, Maria, Hannah, Dakota, Cliff
· The Voice Alive Singers, students of Christine McMahon, presented 'Glad Tidings', a Christmas Benefit Concert & Silent Auction at St. Philip's by-the-Sea on Dec. 4 in Lantzville, raising $3,000 for Loaves & Fishes Community Food Bank. L to R seated: Donna Falconer, piano, standing: Sandy Bartlett, Christine McMahon, Elizabeth Herman, Susanne Bullock, clarinet, Simon Tozer, Rhyan Cavan, Brittany Hannah, Janice Byerley, Andrea Georgiev. Thanks to all the donors, volunteers and the wonderful audience who helped make this such a special event.
SUZUKI PARENT SESSION – FRIDAY JANUARY 20 @7:00
Motivation: Secret to Success
A session for all current, new and prospective Suzuki parents of students studying Piano, Violin, Flute, Cello and other instruments. Program includes: Overview of Suzuki Philosophy and recommendations; Online, print, and activity resources for parents and students; timely tips for motivation for your child and yourself; question and answer session; parent discussion. Facilitated by Anne Tanod, Nicole Arendt and Cindy Speelman. FREE ADMISSION
LOST – PLEASE HELP!
Please help! A parent was in with their children for lessons and has lost a hard drive in the back waiting area while here. It was still in the box, though it had been opened. It was lost between 3:00 and 5:00 on Thursday, January 5, 2012. If you have any information about this lost item, or if you find it, please call David Ruel at 250 802 1650, or drop it off at the Conservatory office.
NEW FEDERAL ARTS TAX CREDIT
A new federal arts tax credit of up to $500 is available for music lessons. Please let us know if you will be making use of this credit for your child’s music education. For more information please see: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/gncy/bdgt/2011/qa01-eng.html
THANK YOU SO MUCH!! - DONATIONS IN 2011
Many thanks to the following individuals and companies who made contributions to the Conservatory in 2011. We appreciate your support which helps the Conservatory in its ability to offer excellent enrichment programs for our students.
Anonymous (9)
Lynne Alton
Digby Belcher
Andrew Bennett
Brian Bonnell
Richard and Lynne Bowen
Dolores Broadfoot
Edna Chadwick
Christopher Churchill
Coastal Community
Shannon Cowan
Phyllis Fafard
Solveig Farquharson
Floresque
Judith Fraser
J. Gansen
Pearl Gervais
Dirk Heydemann
Janice Hiles
Mrs. John Hough
Stephen Hynes
Jean Jacobson
Delores Johnson
Keith and Doreen Ketchen
Sayuri Kubota
Donna and John Laing
Rosemary Lindsay
Arthur Lionel
Catherine Lowe
Ken Lyall
Ken Mann
Mary and Helmut Mark
Christine McAuley
William McColl
Sue McDonald
Garry McKevitt
Christine McMahon
Helen Milne
Arla Jean Murch
Nanaimo News Bulletin
J.R. O'Rourke
Purtzki & Associates
Harriet Rueggleburg
Hye Joo Shin
Terry Simpson
Louise Thaagard
Tom Lee Music
Turley's Florist
Dick Vann
Stanley and Bernice Wardill
Joris Wiggers
Edna Woolfenden
Carol Wright
Susan Youle
Some of the donations above were made on behalf of the following loved ones.
Barbara R. Cowling
Peter Van Neiuwenhuizen
Henry Vann
George Thompson
We would also like to acknowledge a significant bequest from the estate of Barry Swann, a long time supporter of the Conservatory, a guitar enthusiast and maker, and the founder of the Swann Guitar Scholarship.
CALENDAR
Please update your calendars, new dates have been added.
Jan 27 Faculty Concert – Flute and Guitar
Jan 28 Winter Recital at St. Paul’s Church
Jan 30 Suzuki Parent Session 7:00 @ NCM
Feb 24-26 VI Chamber Music Festival
May 6 Showcase Concert
June 2 NYC Year- end Concert
June 9 Spring Recital and Awards Ceremony
